A Moment for Meditation

WHY MEDITATION?

Last column, I wrote about all the things I am want to talk about in this column, except for one very important thing.  Why meditation?  Why should you meditate?  What are the benefits to meditation?  

Every day, we are called upon to play different roles in all aspects of our lives.  We are overworked, over-stressed, pulled in ten different directions.  Every second, we experience a constant barrage of conscious and subconscious thoughts.  This is called “monkey mind”, the constant chittering that occurs in our brains.  

Meditation can calm these thoughts.  It brings about clarity of thought, it calms your nerves, it helps to eliminate unwanted negative emotions, it relaxes your body, your mind, your heart.  Meditation is a mastery of the mind.  It feeds the soul/spirit.  

Take a moment and think about how you may have the same thoughts or encounter the same situation over and over.  There is a lesson waiting to be learned.  Meditation can help you learn that lesson, breaking old habits and patterns, releasing negativity from past hurts and old anger.  It is another form of self-healing.   Think of it as a way of training your mind, and like any other spiritual path, it is a journey; not a quick journey, not an easy journey, but a journey nevertheless.  

One of the nice things about meditation is that, truly, it can be done anywhere.  I have done it in the car while sitting in the parking lot we call “rush-hour” traffic.  I have found myself searching out the nearest restroom when feeling stressed while out in public.  

Of course, the best plan is to have a designated place in your home in which to meditate.  You can have a small altar in place, or just some flowers, incense, and of course, a candle (a real candle with the power of a real flame and not one of those electric things, if possible).   There is some wonderful meditation music out there; find some that speaks to your spirit.  Most importantly,  shut off your phone.  Let this become your special place, a place of quiet, a place of serenity.  

So, now you know why you should meditate and you have a beautiful place in which to meditate.  Now what?  The following is an exercise that can get you started with a beautiful meditation practice.  

Your candles are lit, incense wafting through the room.  Sit yourself comfortably in easy pose, cross-legged on the floor.  If you are unable to sit on the floor, a straight-backed chair works well.  You want to be comfortable, but it is important that the spine be straight.   

You want to center yourself, to be in the moment, in that time, in that place.   Bring your hands into prayer position at your chest, or you may simply rest your hands on your knees.  Close your eyes and gently roll them up so that they are focused upon your third eye, that space between your eyebrows in the middle of your forehead.   Begin to slowly and deeply inhale and exhale.  Take your time, don’t rush through it.  Really feel each breath;  on your breath.   Breath = Prana = Life     Now, with each inhale, bring into your body a sense of peace, a sense of calm.  Let it infuse your entire being, beginning with the heart chakra and working outward.  With each exhale, release any stress, tension or negativity you are holding within your body, even that of which you may not even be consciously aware.  Allow yourself to let it go.  

You can continue this for as long as you are comfortable.  If monkey-mind thoughts come calling, gently push them away and continue with the breath.   When you are finished, take several deep breaths while stretching your arms up to the skies.

This is the beginning of your sadhana, a daily spiritual meditation practice.  I wish you joy and happiness in your meditation and look forward to us continuing this journey together.